Display holders



Nov. 1, 1966 H. o. HANSEN 3 5 DISPLAY HOLDERS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HENRY O. HANSEN ATTO R N EY H. O. HANSEN DISPLAY HOLDERS Nov. 1, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed 00'0- 9, 1964 INVENTOR- HENRY O. HANSEN BY MTF'W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,282,437 DISPLAY HOLDERS Henry 0. Hansen, Seaside, Calif. (1108 Sylvan Road, Monterey, Calif.) Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,848 Claims. ((31. 21141) This invention relates to display holders and more particularly ot display holders which are capable of adjustment in various ways in order to hold articles having a variety of different shapes and sizes.

There are many articles which are customarily placed on display in a semiupright position which are not however inherently designed to support themselves in such a poistion. Dishes, trays, signs, pictures and posters are examples of these types of articles. Holders for relatively small articles such as dishes are relatively small devices and are normally intended for indoor use. Holders for other types of articles such as large signs are relatively large devices and can be constructed of materials suitable for outdoor use.

The need for holders for non-selfsupporting articles has of course been recognized in the past. A large variety of holder configurations have been proposed, and in some cases existing holders arequite suitable for a specific size and shape of article.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved display holder constructions which are extremely versatile in accommodating different sizes and shapes of articles to be supported.

An additional object of the invention is to provide adjustable display holders wherein the adjustment can be made quickly and easily.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide display holders having a plurality of support members which are held together by interengaging slots, and wherein the provision of a plurality of alternatively usable slots makes adjustment possible by simply selecting which of the alternative slots are to be interengaged.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an adjustable display holder wherein a threaded abutment member may be easily turned to a variety of adjustment positions.

By way of brief description a display holder according to the invention comprises a plurality of fiat support members. Interlocking slots are provided in said members whereby the members can be assembled in self-supporting arrangement. Two of the support members are provided with grooves for receiving an edge of an article to be displayed. In addition, at least one of the support members is provided with at least one additional slot which can be utilized alternatively to adjust the display holder to accommodate an article of different shape or size, or to display a given article in a different position. Also, one of the support members is provided wih an abutment screw which can be turned to different positions in order to accommodate different shapes or sizes of articles, or to adjust the angle at which an article is supported.

The various objects and features of advantage of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a display holder made in accordance with the invention. An article such as a dish is shown in dot-dash phantom outline supported in the display holder;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the same embodiment but assembled in a different position of adjustment;

FIGURE 3 is a type of exploded view showing a plan view of each of the various pieces of the holder in disassembled position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a different embodiment of the invention. As in FIG. 1 an article is shown in dot-dash outline supported in the holder of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the same embodiment but in a different position of adjustment; and

FIGURE 6 is a sort of exploded view showing a plan view of the various parts of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in disassembled position.

Referring in more detail to the drawings FIGS. 1-3 show a display holder 1 comprising a back support member 2 and two side support members 3 and 4. By way of example an article such as a dish 5 can be supported in the display holder 1.

As shown best in FIG. 3, the back support member has a flat lower surface or edge 7 which is engagable with a flat surface such as the top of a table. The back support member has an opposing or upper edge 8. A pair of outer slots 9 and 10 are formed adjacent the sides of the support member 2, and an alternatively usable pair of slots 11 and 12 are positioned in the lower edge 7 inwardly of the slots 9 and 10. The back member 2 is provided with an insert 14 having a threaded bore to receive an abutment screw 15.

The side support member 3 has a lower surface or edge 18 which is shaped to be capable of being supported on a flat surface. The side support member 3 has an opposing or upper edge 19. The forward end of the side member 3 is provided with an upturned toe 20, and a groove 21 is provided adjacent toe 20 for receiving the edge of an article to be supported. A slot 22 is provided in the upper edge 19 adjacent the rearward end of side member 3. Slot 22 is oriented at right angles to the surface 18 so that the slot will hold the back member 2 substantially normal to a surface on which the assembled holder is supported, as shown in FIG. 2. An alternatively usable slot 23 is provided between the toe 20 and the slot 22 and is inclined rearwardly from its base toward its upper end.

In similar manner the side member 4 is provided with a lower edge 28 which is engagable with a flat surface. Side member 4 is also provided with an opposing upper edge 29. The side member 4 has an upturned toe 30 at its forward end and a groove 31 to receive an edge of the article being supported. A vertical slot 32 is provided in the upper edge 29 adjacent the rearward end of the side member. An alternatively usable slot 33 is positioned between the toe 30 and the rearward slot 32.

The various support members 24 are easily assembled, disassembled and adjusted by interengaging various slots on the side members 3 and 4 with various slots on the back member 2. There are four different adjustments in which the parts are arranged symmetrically, and there are additional adjustments wherein the parts are asymmetrically arranged. In the case of symmetrical arrangements, the slots 22 and 32 on the side members can be engaged respectively in slots 9 and 10 in the back member for one arrangement. Slots 22 and 32 on the side members can be received in slots 11 and 12 on the back member for a second arrangement. Slots 23 and 33 on the side members can be received in slots 9 and 10 for a third arrangement, and slots 23 and 33 on the side members can be received in slots 11 and 12 on the back member for the fourth symmetrical arrangement. An example of one of the asymmetrical arrangements would be with slot 22 On side member 3 received in slot 9 on the back member, and the slot 32 on side member 4 received in the slot 12 on the back member. Thus, there are a great variety of adjustments which can be easily made to give the assembled holder a great variety of configurations.

It will be noted that slots 9-12 in the back member are all slanted with respect to the lower edge 7 so that the side members 3 and 4 will be slanted to position their lower edges 18 and 28 spaced as far apart as possible in order to provide a rigid device. As will be also understood by those skilled in the art, the fact that slots 9-12 are sloped inwardly from bottom to top causes the toes 20 and 30 of the side members to be spread farther apart when the back member 2 is tilted rearwardly by engaging it in slots 23 and 33 of the side members. The toe-spreading result of sloping the slots 3-12 becomes more readily apparent by imagining an exaggerated backward tilt to member 2. For example, imagine member 2 tilted all the way back, as shown in FIG. 3. Then, if side members 3 and 4 were placed in slots 9 and 10 the side members would be spread at the same angle as the slots 9 and 1t diverge. The same result obtains of course if slots l1 and 12 are used. The amount of spreading of the side members decreases as the back member is raised from horizontal toward vertical, and there is zero spreading when the back member reaches the vertical position.

FIGURES 4-6 show a modified display holder 35 which employs only two support members 36 and 37. As shown best in FIG. 6, support member 36 has a lower surface or edge 38 which is engagable with a fiat surface such as the top of a table. Support member 36 has an opposing or upper edge 39. The forward end of member 36 is provided with an upturned toe 40. A groove 41 is provided adjacent the toe 40 to receive the edge of an article to be supported such as the dish shown in dot-dash phantom in FIG. 1. A slot 42 is provided in the upper edge 39 adjacent the rearward end of member 36. Slot 42 is substantially normal to edge 38 so that when the other support member 37 is received in slot 42 it will be substantially normal to the surface on which the member 36 is supported. An additional slot 43 is provided in the upper edge 39 between the toe 4t and the slot 42. Slot 43 is slanted rearwardly from its base to its upper end.

The support member 37 has a lower surface or edge 45 which is engageable with a fiat surface. The member 37 also has an opposing or upper edge 46. It should be noted that the rear portion of member 37 is substantially higher than the rear portion of member 36. The forward end of the member 37 is provided with an upturned toe 47. A groove 48 is positioned adjacent the toe 47 to receive the edge of an article being supported in the assembled holder. A slot 49 is provided in the lower edge 45 for alternative interengagement with slots 42 and 43 of the member 36. Member 37 is provided with a threaded bore insert 50 adjacent its upper edge 46. A threaded abutment screw 51 is adjustably received in the bore 50 to vary the angular position of an article being supported in the assembled device.

The modification shown in FIGURES 4-6 can be assembled in either of the two positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. More specifically, the slot 49 in member 37 can be interengaged with slot 43 of support member 36, as shown in FIG. 4, or the slot 49 can be interengaged with slot 42 in member 36, as shown in FIG. 5. Obviously, additional adjustments can be provided by turning the abutment screw 51 to various desired positions.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A display holder comprising a back support member and two side support members, each of said members having a lower edge engageable with a fiat surface and having an opposing upper edge, each of said side members having a forward end with an upturned toe, each of said side members having a first slot in its upper edge adjacent its rearward end, said slot being so oriented relative to said lower edge that the slot is substantially normal to a flat surface on which said holder is positioned, each of said side members having a second slot in its upper edge intermediate said t-oe and said first slot, said second slots being inclined rearwardly from their bases to their upper ends, said back member having in its lower edge a first pair of slots adjacent its opposite ends and a second pair of slots spaced inwardly from said first pair of slots, and an abutment screw threaded in said back support member.

2. A display holder comprising two support members, each of said members having a lower edge engageable with a fiat surface and having an opposing upper edge, each of said support members having a forward end with an upturned toe, one of said members having a slot in its lower edge rearwardly of its toe, the other of said support members having a first slot in its upper edge rearwardly of its toe, said first sl-ot being so oriented relative to said lower edge that the slot is substantially normal to a flat surface on which said holder is positioned, said other support member having a second slot in its upper edge intermediate said toe and said first slot, said second slot being inclined rearwardly from its base to its upper end, said one sup port member being higher at its rearward portion than said other support member, and an abutment screw threaded in said higher rearward portion of said one support member.

3. A display holder comprising first and second support members, each of said members having a lower edge engageable with a fiat surface and having an opposing upper edge, each of said support members having a forward end with an upturned toe, said first support member having a slot in its lower edge rearwardly of its toe, said second support member having a slot in its upper edge rearwardly of its toe, one of said support members being higher at its rearward portion than the other of said support members, and an abutment screw threaded in said higher rearward portion of said one support member.

4. A display holder comprising a back support member and two side support members, each of said members having opposite top and bottom edges, said side support members each having a slot in one of said top and bottom edges, said back member having at least two slots in the other of said top and bottom edges, and each of said side support members having an upturned toe spaced from said slot in the side member.

5. A display holder as claimed in claim 4 further comprising an abutment screw threaded in said back member.

6. A display holder as claimed in claim 4 in which each of said side members has an additional slot adjacent the first mentioned slot therein.

7. A display holder comprising a plurality of support members, interlocking slots in said members whereby said members can be assembled in a self-supporting arrangement, two of said support members having grooves therein for receiving an edge of an article to be displayed, and at least one of said members having an additional slot therein whereby said members can be assembled in at least two different configurations.

8. A display holder comprising a plurality of support members, interlocking slots in said members whereby said members can be assembled in a self-supporting arrangement, two of said support members having grooves therein for receiving an edge of an article to be displayed, and an abutment screw threaded in one of said members and engageable with an article received in said groove.

9. A display holder as claimed in claim 8 in which at least one of said members has an additional slot therein whereby said members can be assembled in at least two different configurations.

10. A display holder comprising a back support memher and two side support members, each of said members having a lower edge engageable with a flat surface and having an opposing upper edge, each of said side members having a forward end with an upturned toe, each of said side members having a first slot in its upper edge 5 adjacent its rearward end, said slot being so oriented relative to said lower edge that the slot is substantially normal to a flat surface on which said holder is positioned, each of said side members having a second slot in its upper edge intermediate said toe and said first slot, said second slots being inclined rearwardly from their bases to their upper ends, said back member having in its lower edge a first pair of slots adjacent its opposite ends and a second pair of slots spaced inwardly from said first pair of slots, said slots in said back member being sloped inwardly from their lower ends toward their upper ends, and an abutment screw threaded in said back support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 10 K. J. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY HOLDER COMPRISING A BACK SUPPORT MEMBER AND TWO SIDE SUPPORT MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A LOWER EDGE ENGAGEABLE WITH A FLAT SURFACE AND HAVING AN OPPOSING UPPER EDGE, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A FORWARD END WITH AN UPTURNED TOE, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A FIRST SLOT IN ITS UPPER EDGE ADJACENT ITS REARWARD END, SAID SLOT BEING SO ORIENTED RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER EDGE THAT THE SLOT IS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO A FLAT SURFACE ON WHICH SAID HOLDER IS POSITIONED, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A SECOND SLOT IN ITS UPPER EDGE INTERMEDIATE SAID TOE AND SAID FIRST SLOT, SAID SECOND SLOTS BEING INCLINED REARWARDLY FROM THEIR BASES TO THEIR UPPER ENDS, SAID BACK MEMBER HAVING IN ITS LOWER EDGE A FIRST PAIR OF SLOTS ADJACENT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS AND A SECOND PAIR OF SLOTS SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PAIR OF SLOTS, AND AN ABUTMENT SCREW THREADED IN SAID BACK SUPPORT MEMBER. 